Context:
Despite maternity benefits being a legal entitlement under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) faces significant implementation challenges.
PMMVY:
- A conditional cash transfer scheme for Pregnant Women & Lactating Mothers (PW&LM).
- Launched in – 2017
- In 2022, it was revised as PMMVY 2.0
- Incorporated in Mission Shakti (umbrella scheme for safety, security and empowerment of women).
PMMVY 2.0:
- Ministry – Minister of Women and Child Development
- Type – Centrally Sponsored Scheme
- Objective – To provide financial incentives to compensate for wage loss during pregnancy, enabling women to rest adequately before and after childbirth.
- Beneficiaries – PW&LM of at least 19 years of age in informal and unorganized sectors.
- Provides financial assistance to support maternal health and nutrition.
- First child – Rs 5,000 is provided, and additional benefits ensure that women receive around Rs 6,000 in total.
- Institutional delivery and incentives through Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) are also provided.
- Second child (only if a girl) – Rs 6,000 is given to promote gender equality and discourage female feticide.
- Implementation – Through Anganwadi Centre (AWC) under Anganwadi Services Scheme.
- Issue – Violates the NFSA, 2013, which mandates universal maternity benefits, by limiting benefits to only the first living children of the family.
Source: TH
Previous Year Question
With reference to Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, consider the following statements:
1. It is the flagship scheme of the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
2. It, among other things will also impart training in soft skills, entrepreneurship, financial and digital literacy.
3. It aims to align the competencies of the unregulated workforce of the country to the National Skill Qualification Framework.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2018 Prelims]
(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, and 3
Answer: (c)
Explanation:
It is the flagship scheme of the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE). Hence, statement 1 is not correct.